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10.14.2011

We're about halfway through the fall semester here at Ashland University and it's been a long past few weeks.

The past few weeks, I've been really reevaluating my life and what I hope to do. Now don't get me wrong, I love my major. I really enjoy broadcast and journalism and film and all of that. I enjoyed my time in LA and I would LOVE to have Robin Meade's job on CNN or be the editor of Seventeen Magazine. However, for some reason, I don't think it's what I'm meant to do for the rest of my life.

As many of you know, this summer I was able to attend the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute and Alpha Phi's Emerging Leader's Institute. I had such a wonderful time and learned so much about myself and leadership at both of these institutes. I've been thinking a lot about it lately and I think I'm meant to go into student affairs. I love seeing and hearing about college-aged men and women reach their potential and do such incredible and inspiring things at such a ripe age.

Being torn between these two passions of mine have left me feeling quite distressed lately. I honestly can not see myself in any other major, but I also can't see myself doing broadcast for the rest of my life.

Another thing that I've been thinking about a lot recently is Alpha Phi elections, which are 38 days away. I know many people are expecting me to run for president (and I expected myself to do that also) but after a lot of soul searching, I have decided to hold off for a year on that dream; however, I will be running for a position.

I knew the day I joined the Epsilon Alpha chapter of Alpha Phi that I wanted to someday be president. Last semester and over the summer, I thought that my time for this position would be this year. After thinking long and hard about this over the past few weeks, I've decided to wait. I want to truly develop my leadership abilities to a further extent before taking on such a position.

Part of being a leader is wanting what is best for the organization at the time being. A leader also knows their limits and not to spread themselves too thin. I believe that, right now, I may not be the best choice for Alpha Phi but I hope that, eventually, I will be. I think this process of choosing whether to run or not has come with a great deal of maturity, as it takes a very strong and mature person to be able to evaluate and critique themselves and decide on what is right for not just themselves, but for their organization as a whole.

As many of you know, I don't do anything without submitting my full passion into it. Alpha Phi and Greek life have become not just a passion but a way of life. I love the ideals that we hold for each other and holding each other accountable for each others actions. I believe I am ready to take on a higher position and I hope that my chapter will have the confidence in me to allow me to do that.